Most of the fanfare surrounding the Nazareth football team centers on its offense — with good reason.

But as highly recruited sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy leads a talented offense averaging 39 points per game, the Roadrunners are an excellent defensive team as well.

Nazareth showed its immense talent on that side of the ball in a 55-17 victory against Carmel on Friday in Mundelein. Cam Leach, in particular, turned some heads on a unit giving up only 8.8 points per game.

Leach, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive lineman from Plainfield, has been a four-year varsity player. As a freshman, he was part of the rotation on the Roadrunners squad that claimed the Class 5A state title.

Nazareth coach Tim Racki said Leach was dead set on playing linebacker and did not want to put his hand down in a three-point stance.

“But we had some injuries and needed him to play the line,” Racki recalled.

“I honestly thought I’d be a college linebacker,” Leach added. “But it all worked out for the best. I’m glad Coach changed me to (defensive line).”

In one half of action Friday, McCarthy was 14-for-15 passing for 213 yards and five touchdowns, including two to senior Michael Love. Derrick Strongs Jr. added two TD runs for Nazareth (6-0, 4-0 East Suburban Catholic).

The defense chipped in with four sacks and an interception by senior Jermaine Baker. Leach had half a sack, but his impact was clearest in the first quarter when he occupied two Carmel blockers to allow his teammates to record a sack.